SMC clinches spot in national tournament at Kansas

Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 11:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 11:28 p.m.

Hutch is in SMC's clutch.

No. 1 ranked Spartanburg Methodist (27-0) made its reservation Friday night for a return trip to the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., with a dominating performance against Cape Fear, 82-58, in Bridges Arena to win the Region 10 regular-season championship.

The Pioneers automatically qualified for the single-elimination, 24-team event March 18-23 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. They all but assured themselves of a first-round bye as a top-eight seed. SMC went to Kansas last season for the first time since 1999.

"It's a great accomplishment," said sophomore Ronell Crockett, a T.L. Hanna product who led the way with 26 points. "Guys are jumping around and screaming. We're excited. … We got a taste of it last year and now we want to take it further. Hutch was the ultimate goal before the season. We've reached it. Now it's time to set some more goals."

There are still three regular-season games remaining, plus a region tournament that will send another team to nationals. SMC plays Wednesday at Aiken Tech, then finishes the season with home games against Denmark Tech and a non-conference match-up with the Limestone junior varsity squad.

"I told these guys that it's great to enjoy it, celebrate that we're going back to Hutch," SMC third-year head coach Jeff Brookman said. "But we still have work to do. We have three more regulars-season games and we want to win them."

For momentum? Or for perfection?

"This team has a chance to do something incredible," Brookman said. "To go 30-0? Who would have ever thought that was possible? It's a bunch of kids from South Carolina, mostly from the Upstate, and we have a chance to do something very special. If we would end up 30-0 and be going to Hutch, well, that would be extraordinary."

Spartanburg Methodist had to go to overtime Tuesday to beat USC Salkehatchie in Walterboro and this game against Cape Fear figured to be equally as tough. The Sea Devils (17-7, 5-2 for second place in the region) had won four of their past five. That only loss, however, was to the Pioneers.

After falling behind early, SMC went on a 22-4 run, allowing Cape Fear its only points on free throws. The Sea Devils called timeout to try to stop the avalanche, then another one a minute later, but nothing prevented the Pioneers from grabbing momentum and eventually the game.

"We knew what was at stake," said Crockett, who had eight points during the decisive run. "We knew that if we won, we were going back to Hutch. Everybody was hungry. We wanted it."

Crockett, 6-foot-3 and undersized in the middle, seemed to be able to get to the basket and score whenever he wanted against bigger players. He weaved through traffic. He hit short floaters. He backed in like a truck making a delivery in an alley.

"He's just so strong, so explosive," Brookman said. "He makes a move and drives it. He's just tough to guard. He can rise up over guys and shoot the five-footer. Or he can just take it to the rim and score."

Cape Fear, down 35-24 at halftime, cut that lead to six points in the opening few minutes of the second half. SMC, which went an incredible 0-for-21 on 3-pointers in the overtime win earlier this week, got a deep 3-pointer from Jalen Nesbitt (Chapman). Then one from Ben Johnson (Boiling Springs). Then one from Travis Black (Spartanburg Christian). Then another from Nesbitt, who had 13 points, to make it 53-37.

The Pioneers pushed that out to a 23-point lead and the crowd, led by the student section painted in blue, chanted, "S-M-C, S-M-C …"

<p>Hutch is in SMC's clutch.</p><p>No. 1 ranked Spartanburg Methodist (27-0) made its reservation Friday night for a return trip to the NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., with a dominating performance against Cape Fear, 82-58, in Bridges Arena to win the Region 10 regular-season championship.</p><p>The Pioneers automatically qualified for the single-elimination, 24-team event March 18-23 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. They all but assured themselves of a first-round bye as a top-eight seed. SMC went to Kansas last season for the first time since 1999.</p><p>"It's a great accomplishment," said sophomore Ronell Crockett, a T.L. Hanna product who led the way with 26 points. "Guys are jumping around and screaming. We're excited. … We got a taste of it last year and now we want to take it further. Hutch was the ultimate goal before the season. We've reached it. Now it's time to set some more goals."</p><p>There are still three regular-season games remaining, plus a region tournament that will send another team to nationals. SMC plays Wednesday at Aiken Tech, then finishes the season with home games against Denmark Tech and a non-conference match-up with the Limestone junior varsity squad.</p><p>"I told these guys that it's great to enjoy it, celebrate that we're going back to Hutch," SMC third-year head coach Jeff Brookman said. "But we still have work to do. We have three more regulars-season games and we want to win them."</p><p>For momentum? Or for perfection?</p><p>"This team has a chance to do something incredible," Brookman said. "To go 30-0? Who would have ever thought that was possible? It's a bunch of kids from South Carolina, mostly from the Upstate, and we have a chance to do something very special. If we would end up 30-0 and be going to Hutch, well, that would be extraordinary."</p><p>Spartanburg Methodist had to go to overtime Tuesday to beat USC Salkehatchie in Walterboro and this game against Cape Fear figured to be equally as tough. The Sea Devils (17-7, 5-2 for second place in the region) had won four of their past five. That only loss, however, was to the Pioneers.</p><p>After falling behind early, SMC went on a 22-4 run, allowing Cape Fear its only points on free throws. The Sea Devils called timeout to try to stop the avalanche, then another one a minute later, but nothing prevented the Pioneers from grabbing momentum and eventually the game.</p><p>"We knew what was at stake," said Crockett, who had eight points during the decisive run. "We knew that if we won, we were going back to Hutch. Everybody was hungry. We wanted it."</p><p>Crockett, 6-foot-3 and undersized in the middle, seemed to be able to get to the basket and score whenever he wanted against bigger players. He weaved through traffic. He hit short floaters. He backed in like a truck making a delivery in an alley.</p><p>"He's just so strong, so explosive," Brookman said. "He makes a move and drives it. He's just tough to guard. He can rise up over guys and shoot the five-footer. Or he can just take it to the rim and score."</p><p>Cape Fear, down 35-24 at halftime, cut that lead to six points in the opening few minutes of the second half. SMC, which went an incredible 0-for-21 on 3-pointers in the overtime win earlier this week, got a deep 3-pointer from Jalen Nesbitt (Chapman). Then one from Ben Johnson (Boiling Springs). Then one from Travis Black (Spartanburg Christian). Then another from Nesbitt, who had 13 points, to make it 53-37. </p><p>The Pioneers pushed that out to a 23-point lead and the crowd, led by the student section painted in blue, chanted, "S-M-C, S-M-C …"</p>